diff --git a/esphome/components/http_request/update/http_request_update.cpp b/esphome/components/http_request/update/http_request_update.cpp
index b6b160d60e..eb2d1e68ef 100644
--- a/esphome/components/http_request/update/http_request_update.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/http_request/update/http_request_update.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ void HttpRequestUpdate::update_task(void *params) {
             ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Manifest does not contain required fields");
             return false;
           }
-          auto ota = build["ota"];
+          JsonObject ota = build["ota"].as<JsonObject>();
           if (!ota["path"].is<JsonVariant>() || !ota["md5"].is<JsonVariant>()) {
             ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Manifest does not contain required fields");
             return false;